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As I put my phone back in the cup holder, I do it with the huge smile still on my face.
* * *
“Dad,why didn’t you tell me you went out on a date with Ms. Holland?”
Caleb is waiting for me when I get off-shift, sitting in the living room, watching TV in the early-evening light. I don’t know how he knows, but he’s always been good at guessing things.
“I didn’t realize she was Ms. Holland,” I honestly tell him. “We didn’t exchange last names, didn’t tell each other what we did for a living. She knew I had a son, but she didn’t know your name and didn’t know how old you were.”
“The chemistry was so hot between you two that most of the people in the classroom picked up on it. I think I know why you were smiling so much after your date with her. There’s a lesson here.” My son folds his arms over his chest. “Was this really the smartest thing you could have done? I mean she could have hurt you, abducted you, and left you on the side of the road.”
He’s giving me back everything I’ve told him about going with people he doesn’t know. “It was careless of me, and irresponsible. I know, I know.” But the truth is, I’d been so excited to go out with a woman who didn’t know my life as a single dad, that I’d pushed all that away.
“I hope you’ve learned from your mistake. I won’t say I’m angry about it, but I am disappointed in you.” He uses the same voice I use with him when he’s done something to disappoint me, and when I see the grin threatening across his face, I throw my jacket at him.
“You little shithead.” I don’t even know what to say to him.
“For real though, Dad, can I be real with you for a second? Dude’s want to get with Ms. Holland. Like the new science teacher, he’s been trying to hit it for at least the last few months. Coach has asked her out twice, and she’s said no both times. But you, something about you got her to go out with you.”
“Well I don’t know what it was, I was myself when we emailed and texted.”
“Don’t let this go to your head, but you’re kind of a cool guy when you aren’t trying so hard.”
“Gee thanks, Caleb.”
“It’s what I’m here for.” He turns to look at me. “And real talk, Ms. Holland had some gnarly looking hickeys on her neck after the date the two of you went on. She tried to hide it, but you could tell. All of us were trying to figure out who hit that, because Ms. Holland is hot as hell. She doesn’t know it, which makes her even hotter.”
Now I’ve heard enough. “Look, if I’m going to date her, and I really would like to, I can’t have you checking her out if I bring her around here.”
“Dad.” He rolls his eyes. “I check out lots of women, I’m a teenage guy. But I would never disrespect you, and if she’s someone you want to spend time with, I want you to do it. You’ve lived your life for me, for a lot of years. I want you to live it for yourself now, make yourself happy.”
“You know what? I’m going to. Wherever this goes with her, even if it doesn’t end up lasting, I’m going to experience it.”
Mind made up, I realize I’m ready for it. Completely ready to try my hand at an adult relationship, and no matter how it ends up, I’ll be thankful for the experience. Because Karina Holland has fuckin’ turned my life upside down, sideways, and destroyed my careful existence.
CHAPTER 6
KARINA
“Shit!”I hiss between clenched teeth as I put my finger a little too close to my curling wand, slightly burning the tip as I artfully arrange the last strand of hair I’ve curled around my face. Totally what I get for not using the glove provided, but I have more control with bare hands; and honestly, I like to live dangerously sometimes.
Giving myself a once-over, I admit, I’m pretty hot. Hopefully hot enough that Mason will want to do a little fooling around before he drops me off back home. I’m black on black and dark tonight. Black booties encase my feet, up to black ripped jeans, and a band t-shirt that’s a little looser than I like it to be. Reaching behind me, I put a knot in the extra material, and when I do, it exposes a small swath of skin between the band of my jeans and the top of the cotton. Closing my eyes, I imagine Mason running those rough hands of his over the smooth skin. Insanity that I’ve been with this man once, been on one date with him, and he can have me this excited to see him.
The alarm on my phone goes off, telling me I have five minutes before he’s supposed to arrive. Giving myself another glance, I take a little bit of concealer and dab at the edges of my eyes where I got the shadow a bit too dark. My look for tonightisdark with a plum matte lip color and plum shadow, but I’m not striving for the beaten look. Just the mysterious, sexy chick look. Grabbing my leather jacket, I put it over my shoulders, make sure I have my purse, and then take a deep breath. We’ve been out once, this is no different.
Except it is.
Before our date in Birmingham, I didn’t know how he tasted, didn’t know how the weight of his body felt on top of me, didn’t realize how soft and hard lips could be at the same time. Didn’t realize how a man could turn me inside out with a touch. That night in Birmingham opened my eyes to everything I’ve been missing, and I never want to miss it again. As I’m going through and shutting off lights, I hear someone pull into my driveway and see the shadows cast by a vehicle idling, before I hear footsteps on my front porch. Bonus points for him; he didn’t honk and expect me to come meet him. The knock is strong and secure, resonating loudly through my living room. Definitely the knock of a cop. I laugh at the reference in my head.
Opening the door, I purse my lips at the man in front of me. Damn, I don’t think I’ve ever been with a guy as hot as Mason Harrison.
“You look…” he trails off as his eyes rake over my body.
On impulse I do a little turn for him. Maybe wanting to show off what I have, maybe wanting him to see what’s totally his if he wants to take it.
“There are no words,” he finishes. “At least not in my vocabulary.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
